The Los Angeles Clippers are trying to get some relief for their resident big men, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. As of now, both Griffin and Jordan are first and second in minutes played for Los Angeles. Only Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson have played more minutes this season than the two players. The Clippers are in a hurry to get them some relief and are hoping the trade market can help them do so.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, the Clippers are seeking for a big man that can help boost the team's bench. Head coach/general manager Doc Rivers is looking for a rotational third big man that could help take some pressure off both Jordan and Griffin. The team is hoping to preserve the two players for a potential run at the playoffs as the Clippers hold on to the No. 4 seed in the Wester Conference, just six games behind Oklahoma City for the top spot.
If the Clippers want to make a move, they need to hurry. The trade market for big men is not huge, but Wojnarowski points towards a player like Spencer Hawes as a possible target. The Philadelphia 76ers have been shopping Hawes along with Evan Turner throughout the entire trading period and he would be an ideal fit for Los Angeles.
Hawes would offer a strong offensive game being a better shooter overall than Jordan. He would be a big presence in the frontcourt while having the ability to real stretch the floor. He comes at the right price for the Clippers who are trying to save salary cap space. Hawes is a soon-to-be free agent meaning the Clippers would likely just using him as a rental for the remainder of the season. The issue is what can the Clippers offer in return for Hawes considering the 76ers are looking for big deals.
According to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, Matt Barnes is the first player being made available to any team. Los Angeles is also mulling over making Jared Dudley and Antawn Jamison available as well. Los Angeles does not currently have any expiring contracts on their roster, nor do they have cheap young talent. The Clippers owe their 2015 first-round pick to the Boston Celtics, so trading their 2014 first-round pick is really off the table.
Rivers really wants to make a deal happen and Hawes would be the best available option. However, the 76ers are only making Hawes available in the first place in order to stock up on draft picks, something the Clippers do not have. Los Angeles will try and put something together but it might be unlikely the 76ers buy before the deadline.
